Improvement in metallic bands for binding bales



METERS, FHOTD-LUIMRAPIR. WASHINGTON, D C.

`rior of the band and splicing-clasp.

lisation henares WILLIAM FinLn, or rao'viniinon, nHonn i'sLAND,

IMPROVEMENT IN METALLIC BANDS FOR BINDING SALES.

Specification forming part of Letters latent No. 21. H90, dated August 17, lebe.

Z'o all whom it may concern,- j

Be it known that I, WILLIAM Fi ELD, of the city and county ot' Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Bands for Binding Bales, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichw Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a binding-band embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a plan of a portion ofthe exterior of the band covering the uniting-clasp. Fig. 3 represents a plan ofthe band and uniting clasp on the inside. Fig. 4t represents a plan of the unitingclasp- Fig. 5 represents asection through the clasp andvkey on the line x n: of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 represents a plan of the exterior ofthe band over the splicingclasp. Fig. 7 represents a plan of the inte- Fig. S represents a plan of the splicing-clasp. Fig. 9 represents a sectional view of a band in which theends are connected by a modified forni of connecting-plate with a single key.

1l) represents a plan of the exterior snrface of the saine. Fig. 11 represents a plan of the interior surface of the same. Fig. 12 represents a plan of the clasp. Fig. 13 represents a sectional view of the same in the line .r .fr of Fig. 11. Fig. 14 represents a plan of ainodified form of a single key-clasp on the interior ofthe band. Fig". 15 represents a section of the same in the line .t .ir of Fig. 14.

ln the different modes heretofore devised to connect the ends of metallic bands used in binding bales, the clasp or buckle is placed on the outside and `not covered with the band; also, one of t-he ends of the band, when bent over to loop into the bars of the clasp, is left exposed on the surface of the band, and when keys are used as a mode of connecting the ends ofthe band to theclasp they also are placed on the outer surface ofthe clasp. These modes of uniting the ends ofthe bands are objectionable from the liability of the fastenings being torn out in rolling over the bales, as the projecting end of the band, and also the clasp and key, catch on projecting points or corners which Jthey come in contact with, while in moving the bales, unless great care is used, the projections are constantly cutting and wounding the hands of the laborer.

The principal object of my improvements is to overcome the before-mentioned defectsin the inode of connecting the ends of the bands, and my invention for effecting these objects consists, first, in protecting the ends of the band, and also the connecting-clasp, from being raised by arranging the clasp on the under side of the band, and also forming and arranging the loops by which the band is connected with the clasp so that both of the ends of the band, turned under and backward to form the loops, are covered by and lie adjacent to the band and above the clasp, thus leaving a smooth surface on the band above the clasp without projecting edges or corners that would render the fastening liable to be caught and torn apart; second, connecting the ends of the band by means of a clasp and keys so arranged that when Ia strain is brought on t-he band the key turns and binds the loop with a force proportioned to the strain and prevents i the band from yielding at the joints; third, arranging the key connecting the band with the clasp on the under side of the clasp, by which it is protected and prevented from slipping or being torn ont by being embedded in the bale; fourth, in connecting short pieces ot' banding by means of a splicing-plate in Which there are four bars all arranged inthe same plane, and around which the ends of the bands are looped so as to cover and protect the sur face and opposite ends of the plate, thus form ing a simple, cheap, and strong splice.

In the accompanying drawings is represented my improved mode of connecting the ends of the bands. The band consists of a narrow thin metallic plate, A, the ends of which are united and held by a clasp, B, and keys a, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. A loop, b, is formed on each end ofthe band by bending the ends under and backwarchand then bending the loopsinward at right angles to the surface. The clasp B consists of a 4thin metallic plat-e with a rectangular hole, c, ot' the same width as the band, and of snt'cient length to admit both loops through this opening in the plate. The loops on the ends of the band stand at right angles to the face of the plate, and are confined on the under side by a staple-shaped key, c, the prongs of the staple passing through both loops. rlhe depth of the key is greater-than its thickness, and the edge lies adjacent to and in contact with the clasp, so that when a strain is brought on the band the lowerl edges of the keys turn toward each other, bringing the loops in contact at their lower and inner edges, causing them to bind against each other with a force proportionate to the strain on the band. Thus the loops are prevented from slipping.

In order to economize and work up the short pieces of banding, I use a splicing-plate, C, as seen in Figs. 1, 6, 7, and 8. The ends of the pieces to be spliced are passed through the central hole under the second bar through the first opening, and over and lie upon the iirst bar, and are held in place by the band passing over and covering the ends, drawing the endstight over the first bar and preventing them from slipping when a 'strain is bronght'on the band. The band covers the surface of the splicing-plate which lies below it in the same manner that it does the connecting-clasp. Thus I form a cheap and simple splicing-plate, all-the bars of which are in the same plane, and costing but little more than the same-length of banding, thus doing away with the necessity of riveting the short pieces of banding together, which not only requires more time than it does to connect them with this splicing-plate. but leaves one end on the surface of the band.

In Figs. 9, 10, ll, and 12 is represented a modified form of a connecting or uniting clasp in which one end of the band is vconnected to the clasp in the same manner as in the splicing-plate, and the opposite end by a single loop, j', passing through a hole, g, in the clasp and confined on the under side by a single key, h, in which the wide side of the key is adjacent to and in contact with the under side of the plate.

A third modification of the uniting-clasp is shown in Figs. 13 and 14. This is also asingle-key clasp, and on its under side is a projeeting bar or brace, c, which is formed by bending down toward thecenter of the clasp, instead of cutting off the metal that is punched 'out to make the hole for the looped end of the band. Through t-he hole 7c thus formed, the loop on the end of the band is passed and confined by a single key, q, which, like the key in the tirst-described clasp, is placed with its edge in contact with the under side of the clasp. The turning of this key, when a strain is brought on the band, brings the loop in contact with the bar z, between which and the key it is pinched, and thus it isprevented from slipping.

I do not confine myself to the staple-shaped key as shown in the first-described clasp,v as two single keys may be used and produce the same effect in preventing the loops from slipplng.

Having thus described my improvements in metallic bands for binding bales, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Arranging the band over the clasp and the ends of the band, which are bent under to form the loops by which the band is connected with the clasp, so that the ends lie above the clasp and the band covers and protects bot-h of'lhese ends and also the clasp, substantiallyas described.

2. Connecting the looped ends of the band with the clasp by means of a double key or its equivalent, arranged substantially as ldescribed, so that the turning of the key prevents the loop from slipping, as described.

3. Arranging the key or keys on the under side of the band and clasp, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my W M. FIELD. Witnesses:

JOHN S. HoLLINGsHnAD, XVM. MARTIN. 

